Baton Rouge July 30 [1862] Dear Sister  I received your Letter of the 29 and was glad to hear from home for the first time since I left home but was sad to hear that ma was so low tell her that I am trying to get back again but I guess I cant[sic] come it tell Kate I will send her a Dol[sic] as soon as I get paid of[sic] again as we were paid off the 27th 2 months pay and soon will be paid off again I gave those papers to one of the boys in Johns Co when I was in New Orleans. I was glad to hear that Billey was at home tell him I send my best Respects to him and wish him much Joy. Tell him he is a fool if he ever goes back again [end page]   I am much better informed about the Southern country than I was when I went away the heat is 103 in the shade thats[sic] all there is more Niggers here than white men1 and God knows if them Abolitionists got in among them they would be glad to get out again. I suppose you know I was at Vicksburg2 by this time we left here for Vicksburg the 19 of June and got back the 26 of July and during that time we Suffered unknown hard ships[sic] I was sick with the fever and their[sic] was not a well man in the Reeg[sic]3 and our old General is an old Sesesh [sic]4 and let us suffer5 everything the boys swear as they will shoot him if they ever get a chance and so they will we were in sight of Vicksburg all the time within shooting Distance that C[---] was a failure two of our boys died up there then Wallice Noyes and Cyrus [end page]   Whitesomb. Noyes was 2nd cousin to U.W. and about 30 died out of the Reg they did not have any coffins not but there Blankets to put up around them not har dly[sic] get men to bury them I can tell you it was awful the New Papers[sic] may smooth it over as nothing as much as they have a mind to but the Rebels are not whiped [sic] yet nor will they be eather [sic]. 4 of July down to for Pike to men in Co G. got there[sic] arms blowed[sic] off one his left arm blowed[sic] off and the other both arms blowed[sic] off he After was dead. Capt Brooks of Co F6 was killed at Vicksburg he was taking a Steamboat full of Niggers and was coming back when some Rebel Artillery fired on the boat he Trading Watches with the Quarter master[sic] be took[sic] and his his watch and handed it to the Quarterm aster[sic] and walked to the door [end page]   when the 3 pound cannon ball took him in the bowels tearing all his inwards out and happened to go right through his watch Pock et[sic] Lt. Cull of E died on our way back they were bothe[sic] buried here Capt Ruggles of the Poultney Co died at Carleton[sic].7 Baton Rouge is a Hand some[sic] place it is about as large as Rutland it is all full of Shade trees Brandon is not Circumstance I was glad to get those Postage stam ps[sic] as they cannot be got here for love nor money things are high here butter is 40 cts per pound Eggs 50 cts a doz[sic] meat 25 cents a pound potatoes 25 cts a qt and onions the same flour $25.00 per bbl and every thing is so high 5 cents will go further at home than a dol[sic] here. we are Quartered in a good building near the principal street Oposite[sic] the catholic church